Title: Arcana Academy

Series: Arcana Academy #1

Author: Elise Kova

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Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?

Clara Greysword is broken out of prison and is sent to Arcana Academy where she finds herself betrothed the headmaster/Prince, Kaelis. But Kaelis needs her for her power for inking tarot cards and her thievery.

~ The tarot magic system was AMAZING
~ Dark Academia
~ High stakes
~ Dubious Royals 
~ A tortured, brooding Prince
~ A cunning heroine
~ Danger round every corner
~ A slow burn romance that kept me on the edge of my seat.

There were a couple of schexy scenes when I realised that Kaelis is an actual God!

I listened to the audiobook and it was such an easy listening experience and, although I found the pacing  was quite slow in places, I cannot wait for the next book!

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Sound like something you’d like?

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! And audiobooks. Don’t forget audiobooks!

In other words, if you can read it or if it can be read to you – no matter how you got it – it belongs in Stacking the Shelves.

The Stacking the Shelves meme was originally hosted at Team Tynga’s Reviews. It is currently hosted by Reading Reality.

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It’s been a good month because it seems I’ve been a little bit more restrained….but I was on holiday for a week!

Books I Bought
A Vow of Embers by Sariah Wilson
A Crown So Silver by Lyra Selene
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova (Fairyloot)

Advanced Reader Copies
Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree
🎧 Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
Fallen City by Adrienne Young
Cinder House by Freya Marske

I’d better get reading!

 

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Genre Freebie!

Fantasy books I still have to read from my tbr

Let’s be honest, I could’ve picked at least 80 books so I’ve added in 10 that I am looking forward to reading!

A Steeping of Blood by Hafsah Faizal
Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher
Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J Tuli
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
Bone Smith by Nicki Pau Preto
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer

 

Have you read any of these?

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

I hope you had a great week!

Sorry – this is a double update as I didn’t read anything whilst I was on holiday, so no Sunday Post last week!

Back to work for me and also had my pre-op for my eye surgery to fix that pesky hole! Passed with flying colours!

My operation is on Thursday, so I’ll disappear for a bit as I have to sit with my head face down in neck pillows for 7 days – I kid you not! I have scheduled in some posts though!

I’ve bought many audiobooks to listen to so I don’t get bored!

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Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

See my review soon!

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Unboxing – Illumicrate Unboxing – June 2025
Mini Review – Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Unboxing – Fairyloot Romantasy: July 2025
Review – Thorns and Fire by Helen Scheuerer
Calendar – Hello August

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Feature – July Haul
Review – Arcana Academy by Elise Kova

What have you read lately?

Just a little post to wish you a happy August!

“Leaving any bookstore is hard, especially on a day in August, when the street outside burns and glares, and the books inside are cool and crisp to the touch.” ―Jane Smiley

“Breathe the sweetness that hovers in August.” ―Denise Levertov

Title: Thorns and Fire

Series: The Ashes of Thezmarr #2

Author: Helen Scheuerer

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BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Iron and Embers – review

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A golden thread joined them, a bond that went deeper than love – and it had nearly destroyed them.

Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. With Thezmarr on the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion. The legendary Warsword is determined to protect Wren at all costs, even if it means lying to her . . . Even if it means losing her forever.

Meanwhile, Wren is struggling to find her place in the world – both as an advanced student of alchemy at the ancient academy of Drevenor, and as one of the heirs to a lost kingdom. With the midrealms once again facing destruction, Wren must decide: loyalty or liberation? Legacy or love?

As new political players emerge, Wren discovers that her gift for alchemy is more powerful than she ever imagined – and that it could tear the kingdoms apart.

Will she and Torj find their way back to each other, or will the ancient magic that binds them become their undoing?

‘You stand at my side.
And we destroy them all.
Together.’

War is on the horizon yet again for the alchemists and warswords of Thezmarr, and Wren is in the thick of it. The pressure is truly on.

I tell you, I thought Torj and Wren had gone through enough, separately and together, but this book really puts them through the wringer!

I love Torj with all my heart and in this book he proves that he is THE MAN! And Embers character development is second to none in this series, it’s so great to watch!

The gang is back together, Thea, Wilder, Kipp, Cal, Dessa and Zavier (I hope Kipp and Cal get their own books, even a novella each would do me!!)

New players are on the board, but remember, the Queen is the most powerful piece …

That ending. I cannot wait to see what happens next (when is that please?!!!!)

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Sound like something you’d like?

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Beach/Beachy Reads

This is good timing because I came back from the beach on Friday!

I’ll show you the books I took (and didn’t fully read!) and some books that remind me of the beach because I either read at the beach or they’re beachy themed!

And I’ve gone overboard again with 12!

Books I Took To The Beach

Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree
Echo Fort by Caroline Peckham
The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent

Books I Read At The Beach Or With A Beachy Feel!

Blood and Steel by Helen Scheuerer
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Iron and Embers by Helen Scheuerer
Thorns and Fire by Helen Scheuerer

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Beach Read by Emily Henry
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

 

Have you read any of these?

Title: The Teller of Small Fortunes

Author: Julie Leong

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Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells “small” fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.

This was such a cute read, I loved it!

Tao travels to villages and tells small fortunes. It’s on her travels that she meets Silt and Mash….who are looking for Mash’s daughter who’s been taken. Then they add a baker, Kina, to their travelling band and off they go!

If you like books with….
~ Cosy fantasy
~ Found family
~ Fabulous friendships
~ Animal companions
~ A bigger message
…..then this book is for you!

I do love a fab, cosy fantasy, and this was just that!

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Sound like something you’d like?